Hey guys, here's chapter 48 for you.
And yeah, this chapter kind of killed me. You'll see why.
Disclaimer: I do not own Twilight
Alice POV
Being always right sucks.
I didn't want to be standing here about to face newborn vampires and have the threatening possibility of never seeing one of my family members again or having to kill those who didn't have a chance against whoever changed them to come fight their dirty battles. I could just imagine the faces of the people who loved them, their sad expressions grieving their death, and in a way we would be giving them death and it should never have to be this way. But I was protecting my family and this was necessary.
The shrilling laughter from my vision resounded in my ears and faded into the distant forest. I couldn't help but find it familiar; I knew it from somewhere I was sure. The thought seeped into the back of my mind as the first line of newborns emerged hissing and growling with thirsty rage filling their blood-red eyes. They wanted to rip us apart. We were caught in a momentary battle between staring down our enemy and waiting to see who would cower first at the predatory snarls emitting from both sides. A single crash of thunder from overhead drowned out the sounds of us vampires and an eerie silence descended. Jasper touched my hand in comfort and as a goodbye in case it was needed, I let my feelings wash over him in turn.
If I don't make it Edward, I will come back from beyond wherever we go to and kick your ass for what you put Bella through, I whispered to Edward half joking and half serious, If you dare get yourself killed I will not rest until I have brought you back, remember we now have friends in high places. Love 'ya brother of mine.
A twig snapped and chaos erupted.
Ten newborns ran towards us at full speed and I knew nothing more of my family. The wolves howled and the field was soon covered with moving bodies, clashing and running. I was free for half a second before two vampires cornered me and moved to hold me in a steady grip just like Jasper warned us. I covered Alice Cullen's eyes and became another vampire with a mate to protect and family to return to. One lunged frantically at me and missed when I side stepped it at the last minute and managed to hit the one behind me. Stone against stone collided while I took the opportunity to aim a kick to their back and make them stumble from the force. I jumped on the back of the closest one and had the other one gripped from behind. Like I had called him Jasper appeared and with one swing tore the head off, I let him finish and took care of the other one underneath my feet.
We'd have a little while before the vampires regenerated themselves so we piled them and continued. The werewolves were proving to be extremely helpful I noticed. In less than five minutes I had ripped apart another newborn but there were still a lot more to be handled. Two more came at me only they didn't run straight towards me like the others had, these two were toying. If I didn't know any better I'd say they were twins. I took a step back as one swiped at me but went flying backwards as the other hit me straight in the stomach. The blow hindered me momentarily but enough for them to pin me down effectively. I cursed and was about to roll over when they were thrown off me.
"Get the hell away from my sister!" Emmett yelled.
I took advantage of their stunned form and concentrated on one while Emmett got to the other. Like Jasper we worked as a team and took them down as fast as we could. My back began hurting just then from the weight of the vampire and how I landed on the ground. I shrugged it off; I had to, and focused on the scene ahead. The wolves were in teams holding their own and my family was doing their best with the newborns as well. We were spread out on the field and from my point of view I saw that there were quite a few number of them, each had a more maddening look than the next.
We'll make it through, we have to.
All of a sudden Esme's cry of pain snapped my attention to her but in less than a second Carlisle was by her side and helping her with the three newborns that had decided to team up against her. I caught the ripped pieces of her shirt across her stomach and saw the angry red scratches there which would heal permanently after she hunted again. In the time I had paid attention to the cry from my mother a newborn had crept up from behind and threw itself on me. Jasper's words rang in my head warning me not to let it get a good grip. We tumbled to the ground and came to a stop near the edge of the forest where I threw it off me with a growl of anger.
"Right where he wants you," the girl hissed and stared straight into my eyes. Ruby red against topaz.
My thoughts disappeared and a strange sense of familiarity settled over me. I couldn't move and while my mind was fighting to break this intrusive feeling my body relaxed of its own accord. The sounds around me faded into the background without my permission, angering me greatly, and the girl just laughed and looked behind me. Damn it, why can't I move? The confines of my head were very well aware of what was happening and the rest of me just was an hour behind or something. Wait until I break free from this that newborn is going to pay. Alice is not happy.
"Rather interesting ability that one has, wouldn't you agree?"
The little hairs on the back of my neck stood up at the new voice. It was cold and arrogant yet familiar as well. I couldn't turn around and see who it was, I couldn't do anything period. I was getting extremely pissed off here. It also didn't help that my spidey senses of danger were tingling. The man whose voice belonged to chuckled and placed a hand on my shoulder, lightly touching my spikes.
"I've waited a long time to see you," he sighed. I felt him come closer and smell me. Uh, creep. His words grabbed my curiosity however; he seemed to know me, "Mary Alice."
Correction, he knew me.
"Oh how beautiful you look and your smell is as delectable as it was all those years ago," he said, "Funny how I should find you in this small town and following that atrocious diet that is as unnatural as coexisting with humans. Imagine how your creator would react to you now, you're no longer that pretty little frail thing rotting away in an asylum. Oh no, I forgot, I killed him for taking what was mine."
He knew my creator and who I was before I became a vampire. How do I know he's telling the truth?
"Who are you?" I surprised myself by saying apparently my mouth wasn't as immobile as I thought it was.
I felt him move until he was finally in front of me and saw his dirty blonde hair tied behind his neck and red eyes. I gasped because I recognized him. He was the man from my vision! The one who wanted to get Bella and feed on her. James, that's his name. What the heck was he doing here?
"I see you recognize me," James smirked.
"James," I whispered.
"Very good, my lovely pet," laughed James, "It's a shame really that I must destroy you now, you were the one that got away, well besides little angel Bella. She has a scent to rival yours although I imagine drinking from her will bring much more satisfaction."
At the sound of my sister's name coming from his mouth the edges of my vision turned red and a fearsome snarl erupted from my throat. His expression turned to one of fear and he took two steps back from me before throwing a quick glance at the newborn girl standing behind him. Ability be damned, it was not going to stop me from attacking him. Just as I was the red faded and were replaced by blurred images. Come on, now was not the time to have a vision!
My eyes were shut tight trying to block out more than the whiteness of the room but the dripping noise as wave after wave of pain washed through my body. The room was cold and I was shaking. I had no idea what was going on except that my hands were tied above me and my heart felt like it was going to come out of my chest. Slowly the darkness concealing my eyes lifted and the first thing I saw was a pool of dark red liquid at my bare feet. It was blood.
I didn't have the strength to lift my head so I couldn't see much except the floor and that I was wearing a floor length white dress. Dark mahogany colored hair fell down my shoulders in wild waves. This wasn't me then, but someone else and I had a pretty good idea who.
Bella. I was watching this through her eyes. What was happening to her?
Snap!
I - Bella - screamed in anguish. My feet buckled from underneath me until I was on my knees and the current of torment running through me was unbearable. I could tell this was the first time my poor sister had screamed from this torture by the satisfied muttering behind her. I wanted to retreat from her perspective to take a look at who was doing this to her and where she was but I couldn't. I was being subjected to watch and feel through her eyes. There was silence and then more dripping sounds, plops hitting the ground, and then I saw the pool of blood spreading out further on the cobblestone floor.
Snap!
A fresh round of hurt flowed through me only this time there was no flinching scream coming from Bella, just the sound of her labored breathing and her shaking body. Bella's eyes closed again to which I uttered a sigh and a sob of relief and my brother's name being whispered in the blackness.
Edward.
Snap!
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Edward POV
With a last growl I took down two newborns like they were two tumbling towers and I was the crack that doomed them. I threw them in a pile ready to be burned and searched for more of the red-eyed vampires to kill. I needed to make my body feel something other than despair or my mind would fall into the pit of darkness that had been threatening to consume me since Be-she left. To tell the truth, I do not know what has happened to me the past three days, I couldn't say even if I had written it all down. It's like I put on a blindfold and let someone else guide my actions because living in a world where I was alone again was too painful and terrifying.
The world around me had lost its color and meaning. I was in a crowded room screaming at the top of my lungs yet no one knew it was me or even spared me a pity glance and with this curse that allowed me to read minds . . . I couldn't do it. I realized I didn't have the strength I so long thought I had I was weak and the one person who made me strong wasn't by my side. I let her go.
Now this new threat to my family was the only thing keeping me lucid and half attentive. I was not going to allow a death to scar us; at least if anyone should feel cursed it was going to be me. I was indeed. My sanity was hanging on a dangerous thread and I didn't want it to break just yet. That is why my room had been filled with loud music, to block out my thoughts and my crying, but the one thing that kept me alive was her lullaby. I played it over and over because I could hear her voice calling to me, telling me how much she loved me. I had even felt her warm hand caress my cheek and those plump pink lips placing kisses on my forehead in comfort.
All of a sudden I stumbled forward as one of the newborns took advantage of my distracted state and got a grip from behind; I hadn't even heard their thoughts. I snarled in warning and twisted my body around sticking my feet in between my opponents and used their body weight against them. Both of us fell to the ground and I took the chance to rip its arms off but not before it got in a few good hits on me. As I turned my attention away from the pile of limbs accumulated on the ground Alice's voice invaded my head.
"James" she whispered.
A growl of recognition passed through my lips when I saw him through her eyes. There was no way I was mistaken this was the man that was associated with Audra. His thoughts passed through my own and then I was running towards the edge of the field on the other side.
"Very good, my lovely pet," James laughed, "It's a shame really that I must destroy you now, you were the one that got away, well besides little angel Bella. She has a scent to rival yours although I imagine drinking from her will bring much more satisfaction."
At the same time both Alice and I let out a ferocious snarl inciting fear in James. I was close when Alice's mind turned away from reality and a vision took control. I went tumbling alongside. What I saw dropped me to my knees.
No! No! No!
The vision was over in a matter of seconds and I was left aching, not only my heart but my whole self. I pushed that away and ran the last few feet to my sister's side before James could hurt her. I wasn't the only one who had been alerted by Alice's cries, Jasper was running towards her also. I lunged myself at James pinning him against a tree and let Jasper get Alice. James simply laughed.
Why lover boy, I'm surprised to see you here, he said, Where is little Bella?
I acted without thinking and punched him in the stomach with as much force as I could. He grunted in response and choked since I was blocking his windpipe. He didn't need air I reasoned with myself. I stamped him against the tree again and hissed.
"Never say her name," I told him.
You don't have it in you, boy, he taunted me, You're not strong enough.
"I'm strong enough to kill you," I yelled at him. I pushed further and the tree snapped against the force of my strength.
Red lined my vision and black spots danced across my eyes at the sheer rage coursing along my body. I did not hold back as I ripped James apart and it wasn't until I was knocked from my feet did I regain my surroundings. Jasper's face loomed over mine with a cautious expression and shook me a little. I saw Alice behind him looking at me with a certain amount of fear and sympathy.
"Are you yourself again?" asked Jasper preparing to take me down if I posed a threat.
"Yes," I answered and allowed a numbness to take hold of me once again.
"There are a few newborns left but the wolves are handling them with Emmett and Rosalie's help," he informed me.
I nodded and without another word lit the pile of limbs that belonged to James. Instantly a suffocating purple smoke rose up from the ashes and permeated the air. I went around lighting up the other piles and once I was finished with the last one a woman's spiteful voice beckoned me. I scanned the area and found no one whose voice that belonged to.
You killed my mate! The woman shouted, As I will kill yours.
"No!" I roared but remained where I was.
In between the trees I spotted a mane of flames and then a pale face smirking at me with ruby eyes. I recognized her too; Victoria.
Oh yes, Bella is dying as we speak because you didn't have the courage save her, the voice continued driving my tormented sanity out in the open, You were selfish enough to keep her for yourself when you should have let her go. You basically murdered her.
"Bella," I repeated her name feeling a little more of my heart breaking.
I didn't kill her. I didn't kill her. I didn't kill her.
I was on the ground curled up and muttering to myself. In the distance I heard a crash of thunder indicating a storm and the rain finally falling upon us. The wind howled in lament or it might have been mocking me, either one was sad. My family knelt around me though I paid no attention to them and fought to lock my emotions away for surely death was better than feeling this.
"Hold on to me, my love, don't let go," her sweet voice enveloped me and I surrendered to that blindfold. The one that would give me relief as another version of me took over.
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Bella POV
All I knew was that I was blindfolded.
I hadn't seen the sun or any light for days and I don't know where I was being kept. While I was aware of my surroundings there was a part of me that was in the dark. I didn't want to feel if Edward didn't love me. I didn't want to see if Edward wasn't there. I didn't want to touch if Edward wouldn't take my hand. I didn't want to live if Edward forgot about me. My main concern at the moment was knowing if Missy was alright though I had to know for sure that she wasn't hurt or worse dead because of those vampires we encountered. I'm still confused as to how they got here but upon seeing Katheryne I had my answer. How could she was my question. She was a Royal Angel, she above anyone else should know to protect and hold the rules. The royal blood runs through her veins and yet she has allowed this to happen.
I don't know anything anymore, everything that I believed has been re-written these past few months, every single thing. I'm not sure whether to be relieved my world has changed or grieve over it. Doesn't matter now, I have to figure out what was going on but I had to get to Missy and get out of here before . . . they kill me. That is easier said then when you're heart and soul is breaking in two. The aching won't go away and every breath is harder to take than the next. I didn't want to remember because of the pain it will bring and I was terrified to forget.
"Bella, Bella, Bella," Katheryne's sudden interruption of the still silence set off a sense of dread inside me. "I really didn't plan for all of this to happen, you know, things just fell into place for me and I intend to follow through."
I remained silent and unmoving on my spot on the ground. Even through my numb exterior I felt hate boil for this woman I thought I knew. There were a lot of things I didn't quite know at this point I was beginning to realize.
"Like pushing the Council away and naming yourself the one who makes all the decisions now," I burst out angrily, "How about letting the vampires you led here."
"Hush, girl," Katheryne slapped something against the wall, "Yes, I did do away with all those good for nothing elders and don't think you're the only one who's come in direct contact with vampires. I help them they help me, it's as simple as that."
"You're not going to get away with this," I whispered.
"And who is going to stop me, Isabella? You?" Her words hit me deep. Just because I was being held down by her didn't mean I would turn my back on my kind. "There are pieces of the puzzle you do not know about but if you knew what I knew I doubt you'd be working against me."
"I would never, not matter what missing information, do this," I shouted at her.
"Well, look here, you're acting exactly like your dear parents," laughed Katheryne.
My breath hitched and I froze in my spot, "What do you know about my parents?"
"You don't know, dear?" She asked me mockingly, "I thought Missy or Saianna would have told you by now. Oh my, this is good."
"Tell me!" I demanded. Any information she gave me might be false and at this point I was willing to take the risk. The people I knew seemed to have known my parents and I had to know why.
"Now, now, settle down child, I can see why Missy hasn't told you after all I have her under control," began Katheryne, "and Saianna, ah yes, I remember why she has never spoken about Renee and Charlie Swan to you."
She stopped and for a second I thought she left the room until I felt her come closer. Reacting without thought, I moved away from her and then a pair of hands clamped down on my shoulders, sharp nails digging into my skin. Katheryne leaned down and stopped next to my ear.
"She doesn't know you exist," she said lowering her voice 'til it was beneath a whisper, "Doesn't know you're her great grand-daughter."
I gasped in shock at the revelation while my ears began ringing with Katheryne's foul laughter. Her nails dug out of my skin and I fell to the floor not sure how I should act. If I was Saianna's great grand-daughter then my parents were angels? Either that or I had been adopted and Renee hadn't really been my biological mother which I doubt. Part of my subconscious sighed with irritation; it's like I was being asked to be confused.
"I'm sorry to break this to you but your parents weren't who you think they were," Katheryne brought me back into focus, "They were both angels and after all these years I still can't find why they were in the first place."
"We can't all be evil like you," I hissed.
"Evil, oh no, I'm not evil," said Katheryne, "It's simply a matter of perspective, now stop interrupting. Renee was my best friend and I supported her while she was off playing princess with her training, I on the other hand found love, my sweet Charlie. He was everything an angel was supposed to be and then your mother had to come and ruin it all."
"They connected, didn't they?" I asked although I already knew the answer, "My parent's were each other's soul mates."
"Father was your Angel." I remembered back to my human days when I told my mother this.
"Yes, your father was my Angel and I was his." She had answered. I understood her meaning now.
Although I could not see anything around me the angered expression on Katheryne's face was one I could imagine. I almost felt like smirking at her.
"Since you seem to know a lot of soul mates, let's see how your vampire will react," she spat and pulled me off my feet with a forceful tug.
My body screamed at the sudden movements and begged silently to stop them. Through them I made no noise, she was not going to get any satisfaction from my pain. When my mind registered her indication of Edward I reacted without thinking and fought against her. I was struggling against her one minute then the next I was airborne and being thrown to the ground. I landed on my back and gritted my teeth to stop the hiss of pain from passing through my lips. My fingers pressed down against the floor and found the ground to be cobblestone. That only meant one thing.
The trial room.
Cold hands, vampire hands, lifted me up and the silver cuffs were wound around my wrists like before. They were connected to the chains hanging from the ceiling. A wooden door slammed shut to my right and the echoing of light footsteps rebounded off the walls. My broken heart felt like it was going to beat out of my chest and breathing wasn't any easier. I had an idea of what was to come so I shielded my mind in itself for protection.
"Let's see how strongly you're connected to your mate," Katheryne taunted.
* * *
Crack!
That was the tenth lash hitting my back. Not one sound had escaped me since she started I promised myself I wouldn't give her the satisfaction of hearing me. Although every inch of my body, mind, and soul felt the burning after each stroke and part of it didn't even have to do with the pain Katheryne was inflicting on me. If only she knew just how much I was suffering. Not long after she began the sense of dread that had washed over me returned and developed into a full blown panic attack. My breathing had already been ragged and labored making it impossible for anyone to tell the difference.
The string that was connected to the Cullens inside me started to pull at my heart and pulsate. They were in danger and I was stuck here without any means to help them. This only added to the fire of guilt I felt. I was supposed to be protecting them and I couldn't. Tears of hopelessness ran down my cheeks and fell to the floor down below. I uttered prayer after prayer for their well-being because even though I didn't deserve their forgiveness for causing them pain they were still my family and that was my love down there.
"I'm curious whether any of your vampires are feeling exactly what I'm doing to you," Katheryne spoke after she hit me again.
That's because I'm blocking it and taking it in on myself, I answered silently gritting my teeth.
"I know, it's time for that blindfold to come off," said Katheryne and in a flash the piece of cloth was removed from my eyes.
They burned from the sudden bright light and I could do nothing to cover them up. The only thing I thought of was to keep them shut. Instead of focusing on that I turned my attention to the dripping sound filling the otherwise silent room. It was my blood, I knew, I could smell it. I was shaking and my arms were numb from being lifted above my head for so long. I opened my eyes a bit and saw the dark pool at my bare feet. Exhaustion claimed me and I couldn't lift my head anymore. It was then that I noticed the white dress I was wearing, not one speck of dirt on it, and my hair was loose around my shoulders. I definitely wasn't wearing this before.
Snap!
A scream tore through my throat involuntarily and my feet buckled from underneath me. I fell to my knees and the thread connecting to the Cullens slipped for a second. Katheryne let out a quiet chuckle but it hadn't been just from the whip making contact with my skin. Through the same thread I had received something as well, one of the Cullens had gotten hurt and I felt it. Oh no.
Please, let me feel everything and not my family. I prayed in anguish.
Snap!
There was only my hurt this time flowing through my body and no scream. I closed my eyes and whispered my lover's name. Edward. His beautiful face appeared in the darkness shining with a sweet boyish smile and loving topaz eyes. The bronze locks I adored so much fell on his forehead and laughter rang in my head. My Edward.
Snap!
Hold on to me, love, forget the pain. His velvet voice cooed in my ear.
I am, Edward, I am, I recited.
Yeah Angel-Bells, we can take this evil witch, Emmett's booming voice laughed.
You're way stronger than her, little sis, Jasper laughed too.
My best friend and soon-to-be sister does not give up! Alice said.
Please, you're a true Cullen woman, Rosalie smiled.
We trust you, Carlisle and Esme whispered sweetly like only parents can.
I opened my eyes again and Edward's necklace glowed from its spot where it rested above my heart. My right hand fell over my left and touched the engagement ring Edward gave me. I was going to get out of here.
"What are you doing here, Evelyn?"
Evelyn?
"Getting Bella out of here!"
That's Missy!
He he, so, what'd you guys think? I hope it wasn't too awful.
Until next chapter,
~*~Mimi-Love-4Ever
